It’s been just a little over two years since we lost one of the best motorcycle racing journalist in the industry in Henny Ray Abrams. While in his later years Henny was best known as a journalist, his claim to fame in his earlier years was being a top-notch photographer. When you’d ask racing photographers of the 1980s and ‘90s who they considered the best among their peers Henny’s name was always near the top of the list.

Tom Riles, another of the all-time great racing photographers, once told me he greatly admired the economy of Henny’s shooting.

“What most people don’t remember is that Henny was almost always working as a reporter too,” Riles said. “So he wasn’t able, like most of us, to simply focus on shooting at a race. He also had to pay close attention to the race, take notes, chase down riders for quotes and all the things reporters have to do. So Henny might come out and shoot the start of the race and then head back to the paddock area to get everyone as they came off the track. It makes you appreciate all that much more that Henny was still somehow able to come up with the photograph that told the story.”

This photo is a perfect example.  It’s the podium of the 1984 Dutch TT – Randy Mamola has just won the race (with Eddie Lawson on the podium in third). Henny saw an American flag, worked out in his mind the shot he wanted to shoot and got into position and captured this amazing photo of Mamola and Lawson at attention during the playing of the National Anthem with the flag waving in the foreground.

Photographer Henny Ray Abrams’ photo of the podium at the 1984 Dutch TT – Randy Mamola has just won the race (with Eddie Lawson on the podium in third). Henny saw an American flag, worked out in his mind the shot and got into position and captured this amazing shot of Mamola and Lawson at attention during the playing of the National Anthem with the flag waving in the foreground. (Henny Ray Abrams photo)